South Australian Legislative Council passes third no-confidence motion in Water Minister Ian Hunter following foul-mouthed tirade

PREMIER Jay Weatherill has refused to sack under-fire Water Minister Ian Hunter despite a third motion of no confidence against the MP passing the Upper House.

Adam Langenberg

The AdvertiserNovember 30, 20166:39pm

Hunter on clash with Barnaby Joyce1:39

South Australian Water Minister Ian Hunter talking about his clash with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce over the plan to save the River Murray. Serious doubts have been cast over the future of the rescue plan for the Murray. Courtesy: AAP

November 18th 2016

10 months ago

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PREMIER Jay Weatherill has refused to sack under-fire Water Minister Ian Hunter despite a third motion of no confidence against the MP passing the Upper House.

The Government unsuccessfully tried to block debate on the motion arguing it was a “lame stunt that wasted two hours of the Parliament’s time”.

Two previous motions of no confidence in Mr Hunter — in his handling of the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio and over “slow action” to tackle groundwater contamination at Clovelly Park — passed the Legislative Council in 2014.

Opposition treasury spokesman Rob Lucas said the Government had trivialised Mr Hunter’s spray at Mr Joyce and Ms Neville during Murray Darling Basin Plan where he told them to “f … off” and his subsequent swearing at staff.

“It was not overzealous and it was not robust. It was disgusting, it was disgraceful, it was despicable, it was contemptible, it was hypocritical,” Mr Lucas said.

Mr Hunter has denied reports he called Ms Neville a “c …” and has apologised for his use of “very strong language”.

Opposition frontbencher Michelle Lensink questioned the sincerity of Mr Hunter’s apology and said complaints from Business SA and the Law Society of SA about his behaviour at meetings showed a “disregard for others”.

Labor MLC Gail Gago said it was “clear” Mr Hunter did not make sexist remarks to Ms Neville and accused the Opposition of peddling half-baked accusations.

Ms Gago blasted the motion for preventing Question Time from taking place, and said the motion of no confidence “would do absolutely nothing”.

“Even if it is passed in this place, it is a completely useless action to take,” she said.

The Opposition refuses to accept the argument a motion of no confidence was of no consequence, given two of the four ministers targeted — former Child Protection minister Jennifer Rankine and Mr Hunter in his capacity as Aboriginal Affairs Minister — no longer held those portfolios.

Ms Gago said Mr Hunter had “apologised unreservedly” for his unacceptable behaviour — but refused to accept he had crossed the line.

“However, it is [Mr Joyce] who overstepped the line when he tried to renege on a deal which involved increasing flows to the lifeline of this state, the River Murray,” she said.

Mr Hunter sat stony-faced during the debate and issued a brief statement after it: “If only the State Opposition were as passionate about defending South Australian jobs and the river as they were in supporting Barnaby Joyce’s plans to walk away from the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” he said.

The substitute Ian Hunter we’ve been sending out to burst water mains around Adelaide. Picture: Tait SchmaalSource:News Corp Australia

The minister has also attracted criticism after refusing to attend burst water mains that have flooded properties around the city — prompting The Advertiser to send a cardboard cut-out, Substitute Ian Hunter, in his stead.

Mr Weatherill said he “absolutely” supported Mr Hunter.

“The Liberals should be condemning Mr Joyce for his clear lack of commitment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” he said.

“Sadly the Liberals are putting more energy into fighting Ian Hunter than fighting for the River Murray.”